Submarine mine.



c. P. J. CARTBRON.

SUBMABINE MINB.

APPLICATION FILED PB. 11, 1912:

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Patend sept.24,1912.`

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I I I I I III I'II'I I 'I G. P. J. GARTERON. `SUBMARI1B MINE. A-PPLOATION FILED APRJI, 1912.

1939,254. Patentea sep1z.24,1912.

7 SHETS-SHEET 2.

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O. P. J. CARTERON.

SUBMABINE MINE.

APPLIOATION ;Pn-ED API. 11. 1912.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

'l SHEETS-SHEBT 3 a 2d z A JA\ G. P. J. GARTEEON.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLIOATION HLD APB.11. 1912.

1,039,254. Patentd Sept. 24, 1912.

7 suma-81mm 4.

G. P. J. GARTERON.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION I'ILBD APR. 11. 1912.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

7 SHEETB-SHEET 5.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

G. P. J. GARTERON.

SUBMABINE MINB.

APPLmATIoN HLBD ABB. 11, 1912.

Patented sept.24,1912.

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CHARLES I'IERBE JULES QARTERON, OF SEVRAN-LI-VRY, FRANCE.

SUIBMAIINE MINE.

Specificationyof Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Application flled April 11g 1912. Serial'No. 689,955.

To all 'whom z't may ooncem:

Be itknown that I, CHARLES PIERRE J ULES CARTERON, of SeVran-Livry, Seine-et-Oise, France, have invented a new and useful Stuhmarine Mine, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

Hitherto, in order to submerge a submarine mine to a given depth *h, the mine has been constituted by two elements as shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawng. These elements comprise a 'float a carrying the charge and the firing members, and an anchor b adapted to separate from the float by the unwinding of a cable or rope 0, the said anchor b being provided with a sounding weight d regulating the depth of immersion Wit-h which object it is connected with the body of the anchor by a Wire f having a length equvalent to h equal to the depth of 1mmersion to be reached. At the time of immersion, in the position shown in Fig.' 1, the float a and the anchor 7) are separated under the action of the weight d; in its descent the weight d carries with it the anchor b which it precedes by the interval la .The anchor in descendingI unwinds the cable (f while the float a remains on the surface. When the weight (Z reaches the bottom the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. Atthis moment the effect of the weight d being eliminated a clutch which was dependent upon this weight acts and prevents any subsequent unwindingof the cable o. The weight of the anchor 7) and the pressure of the water upon it are then exerted integrally upon the anchor and upon the fioat a until the anchor itself touches the bot-tom. The elements of the mine then occ'upy the position shown in Fig. 3. This known method of mooring the great advantage of which is to insure an absolutely exact depth of immersion therefore implies the maintenance of the mine and of the float on the surface of the water for a certain time. Consequently it has hitherto been impossible to carry it into practice with submarine or submersible vessels. Attempts have been made to moor mines conveyed on such vessels and for this purpose they have been arranged in a. Chamber from which by actuating a bolt inside the vessel they could be lowered. As, however, at the moment of mooring the ship will be submerged to a variable depth, the depth of immersion of the mine itself becomes a function of this variable depth and consequently can never be given a predetermined value.

The present invention has for its object a vmethod of and means for mooring submarine mines from a submerged submersible boat in such a manner that the mooring can be effected at a given depth irrespective of the depth of immersion of the boat at the moment of mooring.

vThe improved method consists broadly in fitting and fixing on the deck of the submersible as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4 the mines formed of the known elements aforementioned (float, anchor, regulating weight, etc.) and in then, after releasing the lockin,r device, automatically despatching the apparatus as a whole to the surface in order that the mine thus abandoned to itself may be able when it has assumed the position shown in Fig. 1 to moor itself at the desired depth precisely as if it had been moored from the surface.

In order to carry this novel method into practice in accordance with the invention the mine is despatched to the surface by the following simple means: The apparatus as a whole is installed upon the deck of the submersible as shown in Fig. 4 in such a manner as to present its two main elements (the float a and anchor b carrying the regulating weight (Z) in the inverse position to that which they occupy when the mine is submerged, that is to say the float a is arranged below and supports the anchor Z). In this position the whole will present a positive fioatability which will tend to raise it to the surface; furthermore its center of gravity will be located above the center of thrust in such a manner that when abandoned to itself at a certain depth the apparatus will rise immediately rocking in such a manner that the elements resume their usual relative position. Finally, a device for automatically admitting water into chambers provided for this purpose in the float and in the anchor cause the mine after its inversion to present a total negative fioatability thereby again imparting to it the conditions ordinarily obtaining in apparatus of this kind while at the same time the firi 4zo ing device is released. In a practical embodiment of the invention these several operations are retarded by appropriate means to enable the submersible to withdraw from the zone of the' movements of the mine elements.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying draw'mg, in which:

Fig. 5 is a general elevaticn of the mine in the position in which it is fixed upon the submersible vessel, certain. arts being broken' awa Fig. 6 is a partlal' cross section on the line A-V-A in Fig. 5 showing the means for looking the float on the submersible vessel.` Fig. 7'is a section to a larger scale of the portion ofl the float a which occupies the upper'positionafter' the inversion. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on the axis of 'the anchor viewed in the normal position that it assumes'for the immersion.

after inversion of the mine as a whole. vFig. 9 is a semi-'sectionon the line B-B of Fig. 8. 'Figs. 10 and 11 are detail sections to a larger scale of the compartments provided in the anchor for the automatic admission of water after the inversion of the mine. Fig.l 10 being a cross section on the line C-C of Fig. Sand-Fig.; 11 a section on the line D-D of Fig. 150. igs. 12 and 13 show to a larger scale in two axial sections at right angles to each other the regulating im-v a mersion weight; Fi 12 shows theweight is` irstalled upon the -deck of the submersiblev in its -normal .positlon when the mine is fixed to the submersible and Fig. 13 shows it detached after the inversion of the mine.

As previously mentioned the mine comprises the usual elements, that is to say a float a contituting the mine proper;- an anchor b and a weight d for regulating the irmnersion; the' float is connected in the known manner with the anchor by a rope c of steel Wire wound on a Winch e carried by the anchor; the unwindin' of the rope c takes place' under the in uence of the weight d which for this purpose 'is connected by a line or cable with alocking lever g (Fig. 8). The line f has a length h equal .to the depth ofimmersion to be attained..

vIn accordance with the,invention the mine vessel 'in the reverse position from that which it assumes on mooring. In other words prior to the mooring as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the'float a occupies the lower position and sup orts the anchoi` b provided with the Winch e ,and'the regulating.

weight (Z.

In the example' illustrated the 'float is partially engaged in recesses i of appropriate form on the frame on which itis sus- 'pended by lugs a' whlch prevent itf from rocking. A bolt 7a 5 and 6) locks the float by means of a for a? upon a lug 'n on nocami;

the submersible vesseL' The bolt can be .actuated from inside the vessel for the puri gosc of releasing it. With this object it may e movablein a cylinder m and on one of the face's o f a shoulderlc' forming a iston it may be 'subjected to the action o compressed air actmg in o position to a spring o resting on the other ace of the piston and on the cylinder end. IThe anchor b rests by means of projecting ins b' for example (Fii. 5) in recesses ormed in lugs aa on the oat thereby com'- pletely preventing its transverse displacement or rotation relatively to the float, its retention being also due`to the tension of the rope o.

In order that the apparatus as a whole i Ffmay have a positive floatability until it be- -c'omes inverted at the moment of immersion a chamber p is provided in the float and :two'reservoirs are provided in the anchor b; these chambers remain empty o f water in the position shown in Fi 5 being closed by a counter-weighted oturator which opens automatically when the mine is inverted. w

. In the construction illustrated the chamber por auxiliary reservoir of the float, comp'rises a casin 1 completely closed toward the interior o the mnie and receiving externally a bronze cap 2. This cap (Fig. 7 in which the 'water inlet passage is formed can also receive on the external thread of a projection 3 the fork (12 for bolting the mine vto the deck; in this case a water inlet passage 4. is rovided in the fork. The sleeve and as eeve 5 formed in alinement there- With internally projecting on the cap 2 form a housingv and guide for the obturating member such as a valve 8 adapted to open outward. On the one hand this valve is subjected to the action of a spring 8' which tends to hold it applied to its seat and on the other hand to the action of a wei'rht t carried by one of the branches u of a tlever u u' pivoted on a ivot 6 carried by the sleeve 50' the branc u' of this lever is pivoted to the stem of'the valve.

I'Vhen the mine is bolted to the deck as shown in Fig. 5 the effect of the weight t is added to that of the spring and to the waterv` pressure for keeping the valve closed. When, however, the mine becomes inverted in mooring it the weight t (the position of which can be regulated upon the threaded rod u by means of nuts t') acts oppositely to the sprin the tension of which it overcomes an enables the valve 8 to open.

By means of a block of Salt 7 inserted between a perforated plug 8 and the valve 8 the valve can be prevented from risin during the manipulations of the mine in t e air even when the anchor is lowermost; in' this manner useless hammerin of the valve is avoided and foreign bo 1es are excluded i Safety means for maintaining the firing device' w of the mine uncocked; this device is housed in the body of the float. This firing device, which may be of the known type in which cockingvtakes place by rotation, has

not been shown in detail. These Safety devices which are also known`comprise engaging pins ;v in addition to a counterweight looking device which looks the firing device so long as the mine is in its navigating position. While the counterweight looking device (which is not shown) releases the firing device some seconds after the inversion of the mine the pins w are held in engagement by blocks of salt x' arranged between their shoulders x2 and a stop m3. The melting of these blocks only takes place under the action of the water which after the inversion of the mine has entered the auxiliary reservoir p. Vhen the blocks have melted the Springs w* press back the pins w and release the 'firing device "w.

It should be noted that the safety devices :zi-x' which as stated above are housed in the reservoir p remain etficacious during navigation on the surface'or submerged so long as the mine is secured to the deck of the submersible boat and this is so even if the valve 8 fails to form a perfect joint. The reservoir p would thentend to fill with water but seeing that this reservoir is full of air the submersible would have to descend to a (lepth of more than 50 meters for the level of the water to rise in the reservoir p to a level with the blocks of salt The automatic ballasting of the anchor after the inversion of the mine is insured in the following manner in the example illustrated (Figs. 5 andSto 11). Two water-tight conipartments 1' are fixed in the body b of the anchor each of them being closed by a vertical wall 3/ which supports the passages .2-2' for the admission of water and the discharge of air and, inside the compartment, the means for obturating these conduits. The obturation is eifected by the spring valvcs 9 and 10 adapted to open outward and respectively shutting off communication between the anchor and the conduit z arranged at the portion of the compartmcnt which occupies the lower osition after inversion and the conduit z' wliich occupies the upper position. The rods of these two valves are pivoted to one and the same operating lever 11-12-12' on either side of the pivot 13 of this lever. The forks 12 of the said lever are engaged in slots 14 provided in a heavy mass 15 which is passed onto a fixed piston 1G. This piston is fixed to a bracket 17 on the part 18 in which the conduits ;z z' and the guides and housings for the valves are formed; the same part carries the bracket 19 a projection from which forms the pivot 13 of the lever .11. At the bottom of the piston housing 16 a passage 20 is provided -in the weight 15; this pas- Sage is normally closed by a balanced valve 21. A slot 22 opening to the exterior is formed in the weight 15 at the upper part of the housing of the piston and as hereinafter explained serves to est-ablish communication by means of a passage 23 formed in the lower 'end of the piston between the passage 20 and the exterior. Hammering of the valves 9 and 10 can be prevented during manipulations in the-air by means ofV salt blocksV i 24 and 25 respectively.

The operation of the mine is as follows:

The mines installed upon the deck of the submersible vessel as shown in Figs. 4.- and 5 with the anchor upward and then presenting a positive floatability instead of weighting the boat when navigated submerged tend to lighten it. The mooring of a mine can be carried out at any moment without regard to the depth to which the boat is submerged. lVth this object it is only necessary to draw back the bolt 7a which retains the mine on deck by opening a cock inside the boat to perniit of compressed air supplied from a convenient reservoir to act upon the piston 78'. The mine on being released riscs in overturning approximately about its center of gravity (Fig. 4;). This inversion which causes the float a to move from the position shown in Fig. 5 tothat shown`in Fig. 7 causes the counterweight t to descend and consequently lifts the valve 8 for automatically admitting the Water to the auxiliary reservoir p. The floatability of the'fioat and anchor as a whole' does not, however, become negative until the reservoir r in the anchor has becomev partially filled. Prior to mooring when the anchor occupies the position shown in Fig. 5 the pressure of the water is augmented by the tension of the countersprings for maintaining the valves 9 and 10 closed. Finally, the weight of the mass 15 acts upon the forked lever 11-12 and contributes to insuring closure. When the mine has rocked the parts occupy the position shown in Figs. 8 to 11 and the weight 15 then tends to descend in sliding on the fixed'piston 1G. As, however, the compartments r are full of air and the pressure of this air is exerted upon the valves 21` there is a tendency for a vacuum to be created between the base of the piston 16 and the end of its housing. By this means the fall of the weight 15 is retardcd. It takes place slowly until the moment at which the passage 23 opens in front of the slot The equilibrium of pressures then becomes established on both faces of the piston 16 and the weight 15 acts freely upon the forks 12 in bearing upon them by the upper end of the slots 14. The lever 11--12 pivots around the shaft 13 and opens the valves 9 and 10. The water fills the body of the anchorb and enters each compartment through tlie conduit z wliile the' air is discharged through the conduit z'.

period greater than that necessary for vthe submersible to pass beneath the inine; the. weight d is therefore unable to commence to unwind its -line and cause the anchor and the float to separate until the' submersible has moved away. i z

Thedevice for retarding the fall of'the Weightd is represented in det-ail in Figs. 12 and 13. In a groove formed on the weight which is spherical in form a steel Wire line l is wound, one of its ends being attached to the weight and the other to the lever g locking the Winch India rubber lines f' are passed through conduits d formed in the sphere above and below the groove in which the cable f is wound; these rubber lines are tied at their ends in sucha manner that they retain the cable Diiring the navigation the regulating weight d is maintained in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 12. IVith this object it is arranged in a depression bz in the sole of the anchor b and passed by means of an axial cylindrical cavity d* on a. pin (1' fixed to the cup bz. The inner' head of the pin d' carries a spindle dz serving as a pivot for two jaws or hooks (13 which so long as 'they are held together by the walls of the cavity dAl embrace the head d5 of the rod of a piston movable in a cylinder (17 formed at the rear and in line with the 'cavity d* from which it is sepai'ated by a screwed hottom ds. The cylinder is full of glycerin and longitudinal grooves d enable this glycerin to pass from one face of the piston to the other witli the desired slowness. As soon as the mine is released 'and has become inverted, the weight (l tends to escape from bz which lias assumed the position shown in Fiv. 13 hut the fall is retarded by reason of1 the slowness with which the glycerin passes from the upper face of the piston d toward the lower face. The weight only -falls freely from the moment at which the hooks d3 have left the cavity (1*. The cable in becoming taut then breaks the connections When the line has nnwound, the anchor b sepai'ates from the float a and the mooring negative before takes place in the usual lmanner explained above with reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

. VVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent .of the United States is 1. In aj submarine mine adapted to be" moored from the deck of a submarine boat while under water, the combination of a fl'oat, an anchor and a regulating weight normally superimposed 'in the inverse order named while on deck and 'flexible connections for the parts, the whole being floatable while in normal position.

2. In a submarine mine adapted. to be moored from theideck 'of a submarine boat while under water, the combination of a float,`\a n anchor and a regulating weight, normally superimposed in the inverse order named while on deck,-flex ible connections for the parts, means for changingthe floatability of one or more of said parts operable on inversion of the mine, the wholerbeing floatable while in normal position.

3. In a submarine mine adapted to be 'moored' from the deck of a submarine boat while under water, the combination of a float, an' anchor and a regulating weight, normally superimposed in the inverse order named while on deck, flexible connections for the parts, means for changing 'the floatability of one or more of said parts operable on inversion of the mine and means for retarding the action of the last named means, the whole being floatable while in normal position.

' 4. In a submarine mine adapted to be moored from the deck of a submarine boat while under water, the combination of al float, 'an anchor and a regulating weight normally superimposed in the inverse order named while' on deck and flexible connections for'the parts, the whole being floatable while in normal position, said fioat and alichor each having an Jair reservoir provided witli a valve controlled water passage adapted to be 'closed While the parts are in normal position and to open when the parts are inverted for admission of water to said reservoirs for the purpose described.

5. In a buoyant mine, the combination of firing device, a float provided with an auxiliary air cliamber having a valve-Controlled water phssage, means Controlled by a water solublemember housed in said Chamber and adapted to maintain the firing' device iii inoperative position wliile said valve controlled water passage is closed and to release said device when said member dissolves by while in normal position, said anchor having a ballast Chamber provided with valve Controlled water inlet and air outletpassages, means for opening said valves when the mine inverts in the water and means for delaying action of said means.

7. In a submarine mine adapted to be moored from the deck of a submarine boat while under water, the combination of a float, an anchor and a regulating weight normally superimposed in the inverse order named while on deck and flexible connections for the parts, and means retarding the face of said regulating weight, the whole be'- ing floatable While in normal position In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two Subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES PIERRE JULES GARTERON. Witnesses:

LOUIS FAUTRAT, LUcmN MEMMINGER. 

